Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Beating Boredom Breeds Low-Carb Diet Success
Hey everyone and thanks for checking in at the "30-In-30" Low-Carb Weight Loss Challenge on this Teeeerrrrific Tuesday. I had several BRAND NEW people e-mail me this week to let me know they have just joined. I welcome them and anyone else to check in who is participating in this challenge and want to lose at least one pound a week over 30 weeks. Simply post your comments (anonymously if you would like) at the end of this post.
When it comes to being on the low-carb lifestyle or really any diet for that matter, you have to fight the nagging tendency to allow your plan to become so monotonous and predictable that it becomes booooorrrrrrriiinnng! Many of the opponents of low-carb especially try to discourage people from trying this way of eating by scaring them into thinking they'll be bored.
What a crock!
That's about the lamest excuse for NOT doing low-carb that these antagonists have yet to come up with. Their thinking is people on the low-carb life are stuck eating meat, cheese and eggs all day. While eating that way is certainly one way to low-carb, most of us who make low-carb our healthy lifestyle change eat a few more foods than that.
So how do you keep the low-carb diet from being so boring that you feel like ditching it for good? The answer is simple, my good friends. You just don't allow it to bore you stiff. Sounds too easy, doesn't it? But it's a lot more elementary than people make it out to be. Let me show you.
When you think of breakfast while low-carbing, most people just automatically assume you must eat eggs. These are an amazing protein-packed way to start your low-carb day (and I could eat them everyday for many days in a row and not get tired of them with melted cheese on top and a touch of pepper...man, that hits the spot!), but you have other foods to enjoy, too--fresh strawberries or cantaloupe, a low-carb bar like GoLower or Atkins, a protein shake, a ham and cheese wrap, and so much more.
The sky is the limit when it comes to keeping the variety in your low-carb lifestyle. You might even try a low-carb cookbook like Judy Barnes Baker's wonderful brand new Carb Wars book to see creative ways to make the high-carb foods you love into delicious low-carb dishes. Also check out the cookbooks from Dana Carpender, Karen Rysavy, and Jan McCracken.
People have been begging me to write a low-carb cookbook because there is this natural urge spice up the low-carb life with something different. Fighting boredom and beating it will breed low-carb diet success. It is what helped me lose nearly 200 pounds and then keep it off forever. If I was bored, then there's no way the weight would stay off.
Here's something easy you can do to help create the menus that will spice up your low-carb life: grab yourself a pen and paper to write down a full list of all the low-carb foods you like. And don't write meat, cheese and eggs. Think really hard and make sure the foods are indeed low-carb. If you need a suggested list, then read any of the many wonderful low-carb books that are out there.
My list includes but is not limited to almonds, eggs, chicken, beef, turkey, American cheese, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, high-fiber low-carb wraps, spinach leaves, Ranch dressing, mayonaisse, salmon, sugar-free pickle relish, butter, ChocoPerfection chocolate bars, GoLower bars, shrimp, green beans, cauliflower, stevia, Splenda, pepperoni, blueberries...I could literally go on and on.
The point is for you to write out all the low-carb foods that you do like so you can keep those foods on hand at all times. Mix and match your favorites so that you'll never feel like you're stuck with some diet that's gonna leave you bored stiff again. If you stock up on your faves, then there's no reason you'll ever lose the pizzazz in your low-carb life.
How do you keep your low-carb lifestyle from getting old and crusty? Variety is what infuses new life into your diet and what will help bring you the amazing low-carb weight loss success you cherish so much. Share your comments and let us know what keeps it all fresh for you.
When it comes to being on the low-carb lifestyle or really any diet for that matter, you have to fight the nagging tendency to allow your plan to become so monotonous and predictable that it becomes booooorrrrrrriiinnng! Many of the opponents of low-carb especially try to discourage people from trying this way of eating by scaring them into thinking they'll be bored.
What a crock!
That's about the lamest excuse for NOT doing low-carb that these antagonists have yet to come up with. Their thinking is people on the low-carb life are stuck eating meat, cheese and eggs all day. While eating that way is certainly one way to low-carb, most of us who make low-carb our healthy lifestyle change eat a few more foods than that.
So how do you keep the low-carb diet from being so boring that you feel like ditching it for good? The answer is simple, my good friends. You just don't allow it to bore you stiff. Sounds too easy, doesn't it? But it's a lot more elementary than people make it out to be. Let me show you.
When you think of breakfast while low-carbing, most people just automatically assume you must eat eggs. These are an amazing protein-packed way to start your low-carb day (and I could eat them everyday for many days in a row and not get tired of them with melted cheese on top and a touch of pepper...man, that hits the spot!), but you have other foods to enjoy, too--fresh strawberries or cantaloupe, a low-carb bar like GoLower or Atkins, a protein shake, a ham and cheese wrap, and so much more.
The sky is the limit when it comes to keeping the variety in your low-carb lifestyle. You might even try a low-carb cookbook like Judy Barnes Baker's wonderful brand new Carb Wars book to see creative ways to make the high-carb foods you love into delicious low-carb dishes. Also check out the cookbooks from Dana Carpender, Karen Rysavy, and Jan McCracken.
People have been begging me to write a low-carb cookbook because there is this natural urge spice up the low-carb life with something different. Fighting boredom and beating it will breed low-carb diet success. It is what helped me lose nearly 200 pounds and then keep it off forever. If I was bored, then there's no way the weight would stay off.
Here's something easy you can do to help create the menus that will spice up your low-carb life: grab yourself a pen and paper to write down a full list of all the low-carb foods you like. And don't write meat, cheese and eggs. Think really hard and make sure the foods are indeed low-carb. If you need a suggested list, then read any of the many wonderful low-carb books that are out there.
My list includes but is not limited to almonds, eggs, chicken, beef, turkey, American cheese, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, high-fiber low-carb wraps, spinach leaves, Ranch dressing, mayonaisse, salmon, sugar-free pickle relish, butter, ChocoPerfection chocolate bars, GoLower bars, shrimp, green beans, cauliflower, stevia, Splenda, pepperoni, blueberries...I could literally go on and on.
The point is for you to write out all the low-carb foods that you do like so you can keep those foods on hand at all times. Mix and match your favorites so that you'll never feel like you're stuck with some diet that's gonna leave you bored stiff again. If you stock up on your faves, then there's no reason you'll ever lose the pizzazz in your low-carb life.
How do you keep your low-carb lifestyle from getting old and crusty? Variety is what infuses new life into your diet and what will help bring you the amazing low-carb weight loss success you cherish so much. Share your comments and let us know what keeps it all fresh for you.
Labels: 30-in-30, challenge, diet, inspiration, low-carb, motivation, success, weight loss
# posted by Jimmy Moore @ 5/01/2007 07:57:00 AM 
Comments:
Links to this post:
<< Home
hey jimmy... do u mind having a quick peak at my atkins foods and give some advice. i still feel fat!
Hey Chameleon,
Can I let you in on a little secret? If you have been overweight or obese at any point in your life, then you will "still feel fat" even when you become thin.
Yep, even I can "feel fat" from time to time and you just have to work through that. You could eat everything right in the world, but have these "fat" thoughts.
It doesn't seem fair, but it is what it is. Just keep doing what you know is right and NEVER GIVE UP!
Can I let you in on a little secret? If you have been overweight or obese at any point in your life, then you will "still feel fat" even when you become thin.
Yep, even I can "feel fat" from time to time and you just have to work through that. You could eat everything right in the world, but have these "fat" thoughts.
It doesn't seem fair, but it is what it is. Just keep doing what you know is right and NEVER GIVE UP!
I agree with that one.
After 6 sizes and 32 pounds there are some day I feel really fat to a point I don't even remember what it was like when I was 30 pounds lighter......it's a circle we all live in.
As far as the update, I have been stuck at the same weight now for 3 weeks but I am watching the inches come off so I am not taking a fit about it.
I know just two weeks ago I bought clothes and hubby keeps tell me to get a belt!!
I really can't complain except the next 20 pounds I want off NOW!!
I think MY boredom has more to do with the self sabatogue and not the actual boredom if that makes sense. I have caught myself a couple times but I keep the control over the food and not let it control me.
Everyone have a great week.
Wanda
After 6 sizes and 32 pounds there are some day I feel really fat to a point I don't even remember what it was like when I was 30 pounds lighter......it's a circle we all live in.
As far as the update, I have been stuck at the same weight now for 3 weeks but I am watching the inches come off so I am not taking a fit about it.
I know just two weeks ago I bought clothes and hubby keeps tell me to get a belt!!
I really can't complain except the next 20 pounds I want off NOW!!
I think MY boredom has more to do with the self sabatogue and not the actual boredom if that makes sense. I have caught myself a couple times but I keep the control over the food and not let it control me.
Everyone have a great week.
Wanda
# posted by 
: 5/01/2007 3:45 PM
: 5/01/2007 3:45 PM
Hey there. No loss to report this week. Didn't lose a darn thing. I did overeast Saturday so that's probably why. It was a long and stressful week and a short and stressful weekend. :-p Hopefully I'll show a loss next week. Official weight - 142.8.
My fave breakfast (allowable on Atkins even though I'm doing low-fat right now) is old fashoined oatmeal with Walden Farms chocolate syrup on it. Yum yum!
On Saturdays I make a treat by cooking the oatmeal in chocolate Soy Slender soy milk, then putting sugar-free chocolate syrup, sugar-free chocolate chips, and berries on top. Ooo la la!
My fave breakfast (allowable on Atkins even though I'm doing low-fat right now) is old fashoined oatmeal with Walden Farms chocolate syrup on it. Yum yum!
On Saturdays I make a treat by cooking the oatmeal in chocolate Soy Slender soy milk, then putting sugar-free chocolate syrup, sugar-free chocolate chips, and berries on top. Ooo la la!
I don't have a loss to report this week. Actually, I've gained about 4 lbs.. but I know that at least 2 of these are water gain and will be gone quickly. I've spent the last 3 weeks treading water and just trying to keep my head up so I don't drown. Next week will be better. :)
I've decided to listen to your advise, and join in the challenge today.
Boredom is certainly not an issue with me either. I am far too addicted to collecting recipes and trying them out to ever be bored. I would have to say that my problem leans towards not having enough years left in my life to try them all. Even so, I still keep collecting them, and still keep coming up with new ones of my own.
Salads are such a staple on low carb, for example, so I try very hard to keep them varied. Like the Tangerine Walnut Coleslaw I made when my in-laws were home the last week in April. The tangerines were sitting in a glass bowl on the counter calling my name lol.
At 7.5 net carbs a piece, they aren't too outta sight carb wise, but spreading that one tangerine over 8 servings gave lots of flavor, surprise variety, and an extra special punch for only 1 additional carb apiece.
The recipe can be found at:
http://kickincarbclutter.blogspot.com
for anyone who is interested in seeing what I did.
I'm totally with you on breakfast. I absolutely love eggs. But I don't believe breakfast has to be necessarily breakfast foods. Getting folks to understand that and believe that is hard though.
This morning I had baked chicken for breakfast with my hot cocoa. And I'm having taco salad made with the venison frajia leftovers from last night, for lunch. Low carb boring? No way
Post a Comment
Boredom is certainly not an issue with me either. I am far too addicted to collecting recipes and trying them out to ever be bored. I would have to say that my problem leans towards not having enough years left in my life to try them all. Even so, I still keep collecting them, and still keep coming up with new ones of my own.
Salads are such a staple on low carb, for example, so I try very hard to keep them varied. Like the Tangerine Walnut Coleslaw I made when my in-laws were home the last week in April. The tangerines were sitting in a glass bowl on the counter calling my name lol.
At 7.5 net carbs a piece, they aren't too outta sight carb wise, but spreading that one tangerine over 8 servings gave lots of flavor, surprise variety, and an extra special punch for only 1 additional carb apiece.
The recipe can be found at:
http://kickincarbclutter.blogspot.com
for anyone who is interested in seeing what I did.
I'm totally with you on breakfast. I absolutely love eggs. But I don't believe breakfast has to be necessarily breakfast foods. Getting folks to understand that and believe that is hard though.
This morning I had baked chicken for breakfast with my hot cocoa. And I'm having taco salad made with the venison frajia leftovers from last night, for lunch. Low carb boring? No way
Links to this post:
<< Home
